Informal Caregiving: Health System Cost Implications.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Informal caregiving is seen as a low-cost substitute for care provided by health care professionals. However, caregiving is known to negatively impact caregivers' health and, subsequently, their health care use and costs. This could potentially offset the caregivers' contributions to the health care system.

Objective

We examined the impact of caregiving on costs associated with caregivers' use of publicly funded health care services in Ontario, Canada, in comparison with non-caregivers.

Methods

We included Ontarians who participated in the Canadian Community Health Survey-Healthy Aging Supplement Survey of 2008/09 and linked responses to health care administrative databases. A difference-in-differences design was used to capture differences in caregivers' a

SUBMITTER: Shearkhani S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11812279 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature